Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Spring 2026 - LING 111 D100

The Wonder of Words (3)

Class Number: 1003

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 5 – Apr 10, 2026: Tue, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Introduces students to theories about words and vocabulary. Explores topics such as the roots of the English vocabulary, how we create new words and how we learn them. Also discusses practical applications such as constructed languages for use in science fiction, and word recognition in artificial intelligence. Open to all students. Students with credit for LING 110 may not take this course for further credit. Breadth-Social Sciences.

COURSE DETAILS:

Ling 111 focuses on English vocabulary. You’ll learn where words come from and how their meanings and forms change. The majority of the words in the English language are not native English words but have been borrowed from Latin, Greek and French. A great deal of the terminology in science, business, economics, computer science, health science, criminology, communication, engineering, linguistics, psychology, literature, and indeed much of the vocabulary in higher education, is based on Latin and Greek roots. An understanding of the core meaning of these roots will provide you with a tool for unlocking the meanings of thousands of English words based on Latin and Greek, and will help you acquire new powerful and useful vocabulary, especially academic terminology in various areas of study.

We will consider the historical context in which English and its ancestral languages are, and were, spoken, and how the context shapes words. You will discover different types of meanings and semantic shifts of words, how words may develop street and taboo meanings quite different from their traditional dictionary meanings. The course will also introduce you to practical applications such as constructed languages (e.g., used in science fiction), and word recognition in artificial intelligence. By the end of Ling111, you will be able to apply a variety of linguistic principles and analytical tools to understand how words are formed, change in time, and develop their meanings, and you will acquire foundational skills in various practical applications related to vocabulary.

Grading

  • Participation in class 6%
  • Homework Assignments 13%
  • Short quizzes 15%
  • Midterm exam 1 22%
  • Midterm exam 2 22%
  • Midterm exam 3 22%
  • No Final Exam

REQUIREMENTS:

 

COURSE DELIVERY: In-person.

PLATFORMS(S) USED: Course materials will be posted to Canvas regularly.

TECHNOLOGY REQUIRED: Access to internet and computer downloadable learning materials.

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

Readings (articles and book chapters) will be made available through the SFU library webpage.


REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Department Undergraduate Notes:

Students should familiarize themselves with the Department's Standards on Class Management and Student Responsibilities.

Please note that a grade of “FD” (Failed-Dishonesty) may be assigned as a penalty for academic dishonesty.

All student requests for accommodations for their religious practices must be made in writing by the end of the first week of classes or no later than one week after a student adds a course.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

At SFU, you are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all your academic work. Cheating, plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty harms your own learning, undermines the efforts of your classmates who pursue their studies honestly, and goes against the core values of the university.

To learn more about the academic disciplinary process and relevant academic supports, visit: 


RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.